Background

PASCAL is an international research and policy development alliance, which aims to develop, communicate and explain new and emerging ideas about place management, social capital and learning regions. PASCAL was initiated by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Stirling, the Victoria Government, the Scottish Executive and Kent County Council. The founding members together with the University of Pécs have organised this international conference.

The PASCAL Observatory is funded by its members on the presumption that there is considerable work to be done to engage regional governments and associated policy-makers to benefit fully from emerging research and learning about how best to foster balanced and sustainable economic and social development in their regions. PASCAL invites new members to join its network. To find out more about the service or to become a supporter please contact: pascal@stir.ac.uk or follow links at http://www.obs-pascal.com

Following the success of the last conference held in Melbourne, Australia in July 2006, organised by a partnership of PASCAL, the Australian Institute of Public Administration, and the Department for Victorian Communities, this will be the fifth international conference hosted by PASCAL. The conference is designed to further the international dimension of PASCAL’s work and to deepen our understanding of the issues associated with policy and programme development around the world.

Parallel sessions of presented papers, demonstration projects which illustrate good practice, and roundtable discussions will allow for debate and discussion on a range of topics within the broad theme of lifelong learning in the city-region.